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Benjamin Maddox (II), 1735-1811

Benjamin Maddox (II) was a Revolutionary militiaman and planter in Charles County, Maryland, who later moved to the farmland of Abbeville County, South Carolina, where he would live out his days in peace.

Like his father and grandfather, Benjamin (II) was a tobacco planter. As the first born of Benjamin (I)’s second wife Frances Posey,[1] he inherited from his father both the 100 acre plantation Posey’s Chance and the adjacent 150 acre Hornfair plantation — in the once thriving and profitable farmland of Nanjemoy in Charles County[i] — which had been purchased from Frances’ father, John Posey. Benjamin would have been severely impacted by the burdensome paper taxes imposed by the British to fund their war on the French, and most likely was influenced by the rhetoric of his leading neighbors – the Stones, Dents, Smallwoods (General William Smallwood would lead the Maryland militia) and others, with whom the Maddox family had business and familial relationships – to join the Revolutionary effort.[ii]

A plat map of Hornfair Addition

Benjamin’s first wife was Mary Posey, and his second wife was Elizabeth (LNU).[iii] The 1790 Abbeville, South Carolina census lists one son over 16, seven sons under 16, and two daughters—a total of ten children, with Benjamin and a wife. Walter Maddox (his oldest son), Ignatius Posey, and other familiar names lived nearby.[iv][v][vi] The 1800 Abbeville census shows Benjamin and his wife over 45 with three sons (one 10-15, one 16-25 and one 26-44) and two daughters (one 10-15 and the other 26-44). He also is shown with one slave. In total, Benjamin had eleven children – nine sons and two daughters – but his will cannot be found to resolve the list of children.

1. Walter Maddox, probably named after his uncle who died in the Revolution, was over 16 years old and lived alone next door to his father Benjamin (II) in Abbeville, SC, in 1790, according to the 1790 census.

2. Henley Maddox, 1761-1806, married Jannett Luckett (the widow of Pryor Posey, 1745 – 6 November 1782, with whom she had David, Massa and Hebbert. Pryor Posey was the son of Humphrey and Mary Maddox Posey.) in 1784 and both were buried at Turkey Creek Baptist Church, Ware Shoals, SC, where she died in 1815.[vi.a.] Henley is proven to be the son of Benjamin (II) through Maryland census records describing him as “Hendley of Benjamin.” [vii][viii][ix][x] [x.a.] Based on his 29 May 1806 will in Abbeville, SC, his children were Auguston, Lawson, Samuel and Caty. Henley’s wife’s gravestone is marked with a medallion from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

3. Benjamin Maddox (III), 1776-1855, married Charlotte (LNU). Benjamin (III) is proven to be the son of Benjamin (II) through 1780-1786 Durham Parish vestry records where his father is listed as “Maddox, Banjamin Senr,”[x.b.] as well as through Maryland and South Carolina census, estate and deed records that describe him as “Benjamin Jr.” [2][xi][xii][xiii] Benjamin (III) is our direct ascendant and his full biography can be read here.

4. William Maddox, circa 1776-1867. William and his son Benjamin, along with the sons of Thomas and Henley Maddox, moved from the Abbeville area into Georgia and then Alabama around 1810. William Maddox’s 1867 will in Tuscaloosa lists Benjamin as a son. This Benjamin was married to Elizabeth (Donaldson) Maddox, based on an 1828 Ware-Donaldson suit clearly showing Benjamin Maddox married to Elizabeth Donaldson, living outside of SC.

5. Charles Maddox

6. Thomas Maddox, married Cloe and died in Abbeville, SC, in 1805 based on his estate administration. Chandler, William and Lanty Maddox were present at his estate administration and could have been his sons. Robert Posey, Edmund Ware and Edmund Gaines also were present.

7. John Maddox, married Elizabeth [LNU]. A John Maddox was a member of the Port Tobacco Mason Lodge (St. Columbia Lodge #10), which existed in 1792-1798 and included notables like George Washington’s doctor, Gustavus Brown.[xiii.a.] John died in Abbeville, SC, in 1810. His wife and Benjamin (III), Chandler, Lawson, and Augusta Maddox attended his estate sale. Edmund Ware, Charles Posey and many Gaines family members also were there. His wife was Elizabeth. The 1810 census shows Elizabeth Matox living next door to Benjamin Matox Senior. The census shows her, three white males under 10 and two white females under 10, and one slave. Elizabeth Mattox, widow, was listed as the wife of (FNU) Long by 1819 in a Laurens County estate record.[xxv] The Maddoxes would live next to the Long family in Christian County, Kentucky by the 1820s.

8. Henry Maddox, born 1785 in Charles County, Maryland and died 29 May 1839 in Abbeville, South Carolina. Henry’s great grandson, Henry Silas Maddox married Janie Robbins Gaines in South Carolina.

9-11. Unknown.

Benjamin (II) signed an oath of fidelity against the British on 2 March 1778 and voluntarily joined Captain Walter Hanson’s infantry company of the 12th Maryland Battalion, probably with all of his brothers and many nephews, all of whom joined various battalions of the Maryland Militia. They were also joined by numerous family relations, including the Poseys, Wares, Lucketts, Donaldsons and Greys. Far from a localized militia, the Maryland troops would see action in some of the fiercest and most important fighting of the war, including the battles of Trenton, Monmouth and Princeton, under the leadership of the celebrated General Nathanael Greene and Colonel William Smallwood – an uncle to Benjamin (II). The Maryland troops distinguished themselves by their bravery early in the Revolution, and remained among General Washington’s favored troops, notably remaining true to the Cause even during its dimmest hours in the winter of 1776-1777.[xiv] Benjamin (II) lost two brothers to the war – Ignatius (1777) and Walter, a fifer (1778).[xv][xvi]

Benjamin’s name on the Oath of Fidelity, second from the bottom.

Shortly after Benjamin’s return from the war, one of the worst recessions in American history devastated the tobacco industry (the British market had dried up).[xvii] Josiah Henson, a slave in Nanjemoy some time later, described the neighboring planters as “dissipated” and wrote that “one of [the planters’] frequent practices was to assemble on Saturday or Sunday, which were their holidays, and gamble, run horses, or fight game-cocks, discuss politics, and drink whiskey, and brandy and water, all day long.”[xviii] The Maddoxes most likely partook in at least the horse races, judging by a 1759 newspaper advertisement of races to be run on Walter Maddox’s field.[xix]

In 1783, as the new nation was taking stock of its assets, Benjamin (II) was listed as the owner of Posey’s Chance, 100 acres, valued at £50, with a small dwelling house, corn house and meal house on site, in the Maryland General Assembly’s Assessment Record of the Durham Upper Hundreds (plantations) of Charles County.[xix.a.] The land was described as “poor forrest.” The same record shows that his brother Leonard had taken ownership of the 150-acre Horn Fair, which Benjamin (II) had inherited from their father in 1770. In 1782, Benjamin (II) also was assessed for property in the Port Tobacco West Hundreds area of Charles County, but the property was unnamed in the record. [xix.b.]

The recent opening of the Carolina frontier and resulting cheap land probably were encouragement enough to seek more profitable soil. On 3 March 1790 Benjamin and Mary sold Posey’s Chance to Samuel Hudson for £100 and Horne Fair to Thomas How Ridgate for £75.[xx] In late 1790, Benjamin (II), along with members of the Ware, Grey, Hanson, Luckett, Night/Knight and Posey families, moved to the “dales and hollows” of Laurens County and Abbeville County, South Carolina, where they purchased land along the Saluda River for $1.00 per acre.[xxi][xxii]

The Maddox family had attended Durham Parish, an Anglican church in Maryland, according to the parish’s vestry notes from 1780-1786, listing “Maddox, Benjamin Senr” along with many relatives.[xxii.a.] But shortly after their arrival in South Carolina they joined the newly established Turkey Creek Baptist Church in nearby Ware Shoals, under the preacher Absolom Bobo. With turmoil in the Anglican church after the American Revolution, the Baptists were evangelizing successfully throughout the western Carolinas at the time, and the family might have been influenced by the church’s impassioned spiritualism and strong disassociation from British authority. Benjamin’s close neighbors — the Niblits, Neighbors and Greens — were all active members of the church.[xxiii] Benjamin’s son Henley’s grave may be found in the church’s cemetery, near other Maddoxes and members of the Ware and Luckett families (Henley’s wife was a Luckett).[xxiv]

Benjamin’s end is detailed in county records. In 1808 Benjamin purchased 165 acres of land in Laurens County, South Carolina. On 20 January 1811, Benjamin sold the 165 acres for $300 to Patrick Sperin, witnessed by William Maddox and, on 9 February 1811, his wife Elizabeth released her dower rights. In August 1811, notes were paid to the estate of Benjamin Maddox, deceased, on land he sold to Patrick Sperinn.

A rendering of the area of Benjamin (II)’s land along the Saluda River, Abbeville County, South Carolina. Artist: Anne McGraw.

The Maddox family left a fading mark on the Abbeville and Laurens county areas. Maddox Road leads from Ware Shoals to the remains of the original covered Maddox Bridge, which once spanned the Saluda River just south-east of Benjamin’s land. Only its piers remain, and it was replaced by a concrete eyesore in the 1950’s. Nearby Maddox Shoals — a landmark of rocks and rapids within the river — is marked on some maps and is considered an excellent fishing spot by the locals. Maddox Mill was a dominant Laurens County landmark in the 1800-1900’s, but has since disappeared (the 20 March 1912 Keowee Courier locates the mill next to Ware Shoals’ biggest iron bridge, which was washed away the day before by a freshet).

This family narrative was written and placed online by Narratio Vitae.

[1] Family histories list Benjamin as the fourth son, despite his siblings’ cloudy dates of birth, but it is likely that Benjamin (II) was the first child of his father and Frances Posey. This would explain why Benjamin (II) received the two properties that Benjamin (I) had purchased from Frances’ father, John Posey.

[2] Benjamin (II) is first called “senior” in a will dated 28 Feb 1784, in Charles Co., MD, according to CC Wills, 1780-1791.278, sourced in “Early Families of Southern Maryland,” Volume 9, Elise Greenup Jourdan, Heritage Books, 2007, p. 202. Benjamin (II) is listed on the 1790 Charles County, MD, federal census, but without the “senior” title because his son was only 14 and not old enough to be listed separately. Benjamin (II) sold his plantations – Posey’s Chance and Hornfair – in Charles County and moved to Abbeville County, SC, in 1790. Benjamin (II) also is listed on the 1790 Federal Census in Abbeville, SC (p. 468), which was administered later in the year.

Both Benjamin (II) and Benjamin (III) are listed in the 1800 Federal Census of Abbeville, SC, on pages 22 and 19, respectively. Benjamin (III) was 24 and running his own farm by then. Their names still did not include their “senior” or “junior” titles. They’re distinguishable by their ages and the ages of their family members on the census.

Benjamin (III) is first officially listed as “junior” in his brother Thomas Maddox’s inventory, taken on 7 February 1805 in Abbeville County, SC (Abbeville County CC Box 12, Pack 1459).

Benjamin (II) is listed as “senior” on the 1810 Federal Census of Abbeville County, SC, on roll 60, page 57. Benjamin (III) is listed without his “junior” title on the same census, on roll 61, page 325. Their ages and the ages of their family members on the census again confirm the distinction.

Benjamin (III) is listed one last time as “junior” on the estate sale record for his deceased brother or uncle John Maddox on 9 November 1810 in Abbeville, SC (Book 3, page 92). Benjamin (II) is listed without his “senior” title in his January 1811 sale of his above-mentioned 165 acres in Abbeville, SC, to Patrick Sperrin. His wife Elizabeth released her dower rights. Benjamin (II) died shortly after his 1811 sale of the 165 acres.

One unrelated family historian has argued that Benjamin (III) is identifiable with a Benjamin who was the father of Chandler and Lawson Maddox (who are later orphaned in Georgia), and who lived in Laurens County, SC in ca. 1790-1810. They also argue that Benjamin (father of Lawson and Chandler) moved to Georgia, and later to Alabama, with many other Maddoxes. This historian’s argument has proliferated on the Internet. However, the genealogist Joyce Smelley Odom has demonstrated that Chandler and Lawson were actually Benjamin (III)’s nephews. The Benjamin who moved to Georgia also was Benjamin (III)’s nephew – the son of William Maddox (1776 MD – 1867 AL). Further details are here.

Benjamin Maddox (II) as listed on page 22 of the 1800 federal census of Abbeville, SC.

Benjamin Maddox (III) as listed on the 1800 federal census of Abbeville, SC.

[iii] Elizabeth is proven to be the wife of Benjamin II because on 20 January 1811, Benjamin sold 165 acres for $300 to Patrick Sperin, witnessed by William Maddox and, on 9 February 1811, his wife Elizabeth released her dower rights, according to a 15 Feb 1811 Laurens Co, SC deed. In August 1811, notes were paid to the estate of Benjamin Maddox, deceased, on land he sold to Patrick Sperinn.

[v] Mary is shown to be Benjamin’s wife in Abstracts of Charles County, Maryland, Court and Land Records (3 volumes, 1658-1722), Elise Greenup Jourdan, Family Line Publications, 1994, 1995, K#4.4; K#4.1.

[vi] Benjamin’s land in SC is sold in 1811 and his second wife Elizabeth releases her dower rights, according to 15 Feb 1811 Laurens Co, SC deed.

[x] Another source describing the movement of the Maddox family, with the Posey family, from Maryland to SC is “The Posey Family in America,” Floyd Franklin Posey, University of Southern Mississippi, pp. 58-59 and 78-82.

[x.a.] Jannett Luckett, daughter of Ignatius and Margaret McCane Luckett, married Pryor Posey in either 1765 or 1769. Pryor died in 1782, and Jannett Luckett Posey, his widow, married Hendley in 1784. Hendley died in 1806. In the 1810 Abbeville census, what may be Jannett is listed over 45 with 1 son 16-25, and 1 son 26-44, and 6 slaves living next to Benjamin Posey, Benjamin Senior’s nephew (Mary Maddox Posey’s son) and near Benjamin Matox Senior.

[x.b.] Christ Church (Old Durham Church) Durham Parish, Nanjemoy, MD, microfilm M226, contains records of the Maddox family’s presence from 1780-1786, and their absence thereafter, and the use of the “senior” title for Benjamin Maddox as of 1784:

[xi] Benjamin (III) is the son of Benjamin (II), and both moved from Maryland to South Carolina, based on the following evidence: Benjamin (II) is first called “senior” on 28 Feb 1784, in Charles Co., MD, according to Christ Church (Old Durham Church) Durham Parish, Nanjemoy, MD, microfilm M226 and according to CC Wills, 1780-1791.278, sourced in “Early Families of Southern Maryand,” Volume 9, Elise Greenup Jourdan, Heritage Books, 2007, p. 202. Benjamin (II) sells his land (Horne Fair and Posey’s Chance) in Charles Co., MD, in 1790, according to Charles County Land Records K#4.2 and #4.4, sourced in “Early Families of Southern Maryand,” Volume 9, Elise Greenup Jourdan, Heritage Books, 2007, p. 203. He can then be found living in Abbeville, SC, later in 1790, according to the 1790 Federal Census, Abbeville, SC, p.5. Thereafter, both Benjamins can be found living close by in the 1800 Federal Census, Abbeville, SC, pp. 20 & 22. Benjamin (III) is called “junior” in Abbeville, South Carolina, in multiple estate administration records as early as 1805, most notably in the 1805 estate administration of his brother Thomas Maddox, according to Abbeville, South Carolina Estate Administration records, 1805, Box 61, Pack 1457.

Benjamin (III) was listed three times as “Benjamin Maddox Jun.” in his brother Thomas Maddox’s estate administration record, in Abbeville County, SC, in December 1805, providing the most obvious evidence of Benjamin (II)’s paternity. Benjamin (II) was given a “senior” title as early as 1784 in Charles County, Maryland.

[xiii.a.] Source of Port Tobacco Mason Lodge membership roster: Schultz, Edward T., History of the Freemasonry in Maryland, of All the Rites Introduced into Maryland, from the Earliest Time to the Presnt. Volume I. (J.H. Medairy, Baltimore, 1884).

[xiv] Maryland troops were among Washington’s most loyal and dependable, according to 1776, David McCullough, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2005, p. 171.

[xv] Revolutionary service recorded in The Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War, S. Eugene Clements and Edward Wright, Heritage Books, 2006, pp. 158-164.

[xvi] The Maryland Militia’s service in the Revolution is well-described in The Price of Nationhood: The American Revolution in Charles County, Jean B. Lee, W.W. Norton & Co., New York,1994.

[xvii]The Price of Nationhood: The American Revolution in Charles County, Jean B. Lee, W.W. Norton & Co., New York,1994.

[xix.a.] The Maryland Society of Sons of the American Revolution have provided the Maryland General Assembly Assessment Record for Charles County, 1783 (and other years), at http://www.mdssar.org/sites/default/files/archives/1783taxlists/Charles_Co_MD1783OPT.pdf. Benjamin (II) is listed on page 147.

[xix.b.] The Maryland Society of Sons of the American Revolution has provided the Maryland General Assembly’s 1782 “Charles County, Maryland, Assessments in Different Monies,” at http://www.mdssar.org/sites/default/files/archives/1783taxlists/Charles_Co_MD1782OPT.pdf. Benjamin is listed on page 51 (Port Tobacco West Hundreds).

[xx] Charles County Maryland Deed Book K 4, pages 2, 4. Includes his wife, Mary’s, release of her dower rights. Both deeds were recorded 4 March 1790.

[xxi] Associated families are listed next to Benjamin in the 1790 and 1800 Federal Censuses, Abbeville Co., SC, and Laurens Co., SC.

[xxii] Plat map is from Laurens County, SC, Deed Book P, p 191, 9 April 1808.

[xxiii] The early members of the Turkey Creek Baptist Church, as well as their activities, are listed in South Carolina Baptists, 1670-1805, Leah Townsend, University of South Carolina, 1926, pp.182-192. The original meeting house was erected on Dicky (Richard) Maddox’s land. Among the Maddox associates in the parish were Martha Ware, Nicholas Ware, Caty Gaines, Henry Gaines, Molly Gaines, Susannah Gaines, Barbara Long, Elizabeth Long, Nicholas Long (the Longs would live near the Maddoxes in Kentucky), Michael Magee, Benjamin Neighbours (who lived next to Benjamin (II) along the Saluda River), and Rev. Joseph Redding.

Do you know anything about the Donaldson families in Maryland mentioned along with the Maddox, Wares, and Poseys? I am descended from Thomas Donaldson, who’s daughter Elizabeth married Benjamin Mddox II.

Hi there, Samantha. We haven’t spent a lot of time looking into the Donaldsons in Maryland, but Thomas and Elizabeth were in Abbeville, SC, at the same time that Benjamin II and III were there. I have an unsourced snippet that says the 1794 Edinburgh bible of Thomas Donaldson listed his children, one of whom was Elizabeth Donaldson, daughter of Thomas and Mary Cook Donaldson, born 30 September 1780. I’d love to know more.

Professor Maddox, The Bible belonging to Thomas Donaldson is at the Lexington Co Museum in Lexinton SC. I have scanned pictures on my Ancestry.com account. Elizabeth Donaldson is accounted for. I also have estate records for Thomas Donaldson after he died. John Ware, Robert Posey and Charles Posey are listed in Thomas’s Estate. I only have info on Thomas when he was in Abbeville. if you need anything else, my email is spnifong@hotmail.com.

Samantha… I updated the Benjamin II page to include a new finding… that Elizabeth Mattox, widow, was listed as the wife of (FNU) Long by 1819, according to “Laurens County Marriages, 1793-1909, Implied In Laurens County Estate Records,” Laurens Estate Box 44, pack 11, flourished 1819. I think this is Elizabeth (Donaldson) Maddox. The second marriage to a Long matches the Maddoxes’ association with the Longs in Kentucky.

Elizabeth (Garrett) Mattox married Daniel Long as her second husband. Daniel’s father was Ware Long from Culpepper Va. and from looking at records could be connected to the Ware family who moved to the same area. Daniel’s grandfather’s name had been Nicholas Ware. Daniel moved to Laurens SC after the Revolutionary War.

Thanks Colleen! We’ve run into a lot of trouble trying to suss out the various Benjamin Maddoxes and Elizabeth Maddoxes in Laurens County. If you have any references for your links, we’d love to see them.

This says they were married in Va. And that makes sense since Daniel was from there and their first son was born there, with their other children born in Laurens SC. All very confusing. I’m not sure if I helped or simply made it all more confusing. 🙂

I will look into your new finding. Meanwhile, I asked the Maryland Genealogical Society to find a connection between Thomas Donaldson and Benjamin Maddox in Port Tobacco. They could not find a connection in their records. I did find a Thomas Donaldson in Worchester Co, Md who was a private in the 3rd Maryland in 1776. I really don’t think Thomas and Benjamin (as well as Posey, Lucketts) knew each other before Abbeville. Most of his neighbors have connections before Abbeville.
Samantha
PS…I have a WordPress blog now too for my genealogy work. It isn’t as fancy as yours.

I’m beginning to believe Joyce Smelley Odom that my Benjamin II did NOT marry Elizabeth Donaldson. My Benjamin II was certainly married to an Elizabeth (she released her dower rights to the deceased Benjamin II’s property in August 1811); however, the image of the 1828 Ware-Donaldson suit on your site (https://spnifong.wordpress.com/2016/02/13/194/) clearly shows a Benjamin married to Elizabeth Donaldson, living outside of SC. Joyce Smelley Odom claims that this Benjamin and Elizabeth were in Alabama by 1828. I believe that this SC-AL Benjamin is the son of William Maddox (William was the son of Benjamin II and brother of Benjamin III), since William Maddox’s Tuscaloosa will lists Benjamin as a son.

I’m trying to help a person on Ancestry with a Lawson Maddox born in 1784 that she thought was a son of Benjamin b. 1735 & 2nd wife Elizabeth – who she has as a McKenzie. This Lawson married Elizabeth Donaldson….Unless Lawson is actually Benjamin Lawson ??? I know something is wrong with this since apparently 2nd wife Elizabeth apparently had no children. But I can’t place this Lawson and now having the Elizabeth Donaldson name be part of this “mixup” of Benjamins is even more confusing. The dates of this Lawson’s birth – 1784 makes him too old to be a son of William brother of Benjamin III – have you or anyone seen this Lawson and know where he resides in this family tree? Any help anyone can provide is most welcome!
Susan Avery – Maddox descendant – my personal line goes through daughter Phoebe, sister of Benjamin Maddox II but I’m trying to help a DNA match cousin.

Elizabeth Donaldson was born in 1780. Benjamin’s son William was born in 1776. William’s son Benjamin couldn’t have married Elizabeth in 1794 because he wasn’t born or he was an infant. I highly doubt Elizabeth would marry someone 20 years her junior back then. If I recall there is a Benjamin Maddox buried in Atlanta area I think?

Do you have any idea who the Elizabeth Matox is on the 1810 census in Abbeville? She is living beside Benjamin Sr. She has 3 boys under 10 and 2 girls under 10. She is 26 -44. Could that be Elizabeth Donaldson?

Do you know what church/denomination the Maddoxes attendee in Abbeville? I found the Turkey Creek Church Records…..No Donaldsons until son William Donaldson was baptized in 1813 .There weren’t any Maddoxes either that I could find. I only got to 1825.

Our Maddoxes were members of the Turkey Creek Baptist Church. Some of their graves are in the church’s cemetery. Most importantly, Henley Maddox’s grave is there. He was the son of Benjamin (II).

The early members of the Turkey Creek Baptist Church, as well as their activities, are listed in South Carolina Baptists, 1670-1805, Leah Townsend, University of South Carolina, 1926, pp.182-192. The original meeting house was erected on Dicky (Richard) Maddox’s land. Among the Maddox associates in the parish were Martha Ware, Nicholas Ware, Caty Gaines, Henry Gaines, Molly Gaines, Susannah Gaines, (the Maddoxes would rejoin the Gaines family in Crawford Co., IL, years later) Barbara Long, Elizabeth Long, Nicholas Long (the Longs would live near the Maddoxes in Kentucky), Michael Magee, Benjamin Neighbours (who lived next to Benjamin (II) along the Saluda River), and Rev. Joseph Redding.

Hi my name is Deborah King and I just ran across this site because I am also researching Benjamin Maddox. I am trying to verify my information and like you said there are so many Benjamin’s it is hard to tell them apart. This is what I have found and it may not be accurate, I am in the put the puzzle pieces together stage. I have a notebook that I write everything in and then try to fit the pieces in. I did find a Benjamin Maddox Sr. 1693-1770 ( son of Cornelius Maddox 1661-1706) Benjamin Sr was married to Frances Posey Wheeler born 1695 in MD and died 1784 in VA. Benjamin Lawson Maddox ll born 1735-1811?( I am questioning that date if anyone knows for certain please let me know.), married Mary Elizabeth McKenzie or Moore? 1756 in VA her father could have been Thomas. I have been working on just Maddox for days and I am still not sure. My email is dking3809@gmail.com and I am on ancestry.com my tree is Rombs/McGuire/Alcorn. don’t completely trust everything on there, I made the amateurs mistake of just following leaves and now I am going back to verify and correct mistakes but it might give you some answers. Happy hunting.

Determining which Benjamin is which is really difficult work. Joyce Odom did a great job in her write-up some years ago. You can read it here: https://hisxmark.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/joyce-odoms-abbeville-maddox-narrative.pdf. In a nutshell, there were at least 3 Benjamin Maddoxes alive at the same time in the vicinity of Abbeville, SC, around 1800. There was probably also more than one Elizabeth Maddox. We feel we’ve done a good job of putting together the pieces to link our Benjamins, but we’re always open to more data and insights.

Our Benjamin II died in 1811 based on an August 1811 record indicating that notes were paid to the estate of Benjamin Maddox, deceased, on land he sold to Patrick Sperinn. Around the same time, our Benjamin III moved north to Tennessee and then Illinois.

Professor Maddox, Thank you so much for the link. I am hoping this is my Benjamin but even if he isnt, I have enjoyed reading about him. I feel like he might be my Benjamin because of names given to family members that are showing up in my known family tree. I love history and have read almost your whole website. I see now the importance of writing down known information for future generations. That you for the inspiration. Thank you again Deborah

After reading you website more I am indeed very confused and I am wondering is I am even going in the right direction. My Maddox family ending up in Texas withmy 2x great grandfather Lawson Monroe Maddox born 1842 his father was John W Maddox born in SC 1812 on the 1850 census and list his wife as Carolina M with 10 children. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciate. By the way this is a great web page.

My name is Jacob Alan Maddox. My lineage ended up in Texas. My Grandfather born in San Antonio 1932. Great-Grandfather Ross Melburn Maddox born in Sheffield, Alabama in 1902. Thomas Ross Maddox born in 1876 Christiansburg, Virginia. 1880 Census I find Jno M Maddox 40 years with Thomas Ross Maddox in Virginia and has Jno listing Laurens County, SC as Birthplace. Not sure if any connection with you or Professor Maddox. I saw Abbeville is right next door to Laurens County, I also found a 1860 Census record with a Joel Maddox 55 years old with a J.M Maddox that is 20 years old in Laurens County, SC.

Hello Jacob. I tried to answer your email earlier but I’m not sure I did it right so I’m going to try it again. My great grandfather William Elex Allcorn 1869-1961 was married to Martha Cordelia Maddox 1871-1945. She had a sister Rosana Elizabeth “Lizzie” Maddox that was married to William Elex brother Cornelius “Doc” Allcorn( there is the Cornelius again) And to make it crazier Lizzie married William after Martha died. Sorry I got off track but it seems my family tree goes in circles. Martha Maddox’s father was Lawson Monroe Maddox 1842-1932 born in Fayette Alabama. I think Lawson’s father was John Wiley Maddox 1812-1885 but I am not sure. I am still researching. I made the begins mistake years ago by following leaves with out verifying now I have a big mess. Hope you get this and we can help each other. Thanks Deb.

Yes Jacob I have the family you mentioned in my family tree also. I am sure you and I or cousins My email is dking3809@gmail.com. I am not even sure if I am answering in the right spot. I know Joel is in the line I went round and round with the name Joel and Jonathan thinking they were the same people. I don’t really know the professor personally I just ran across his webpage when I was doing research and loved reading it. I believe that we all have the same ancestors because of the names like Posey that keep popping up. There sure are a lot of Benjamin’s lol. Please email me I would like to keep in touch maybe you have information that will like our tree. Thank you for contacting me. Hope to here from you soon. Debbie

Love the work you guys have put into this site. Very impressive dedication. Very Maddoxesque…

I have my genealogy linked to Mark Maddox b ~1785 (d 1848, Al) through John Maddox b 1807 (GA->Al). We have verified my lineage through census records and wills and are confident of it’s validity to Mark Maddox. Now, most of the internet thinks my Mark Maddox is Mark Martin Maddox son of William A Maddox of Prince County. I can’t find any proof of that. My gut tells me it’s more likely my Mark Maddox is one of the undocumented sons of Benjamin II (but I think that’s a reach)…Anyway, here is my back-info and question:

I recently had my yDNA 111 test completed and had some odd findings.

On a genetic distance of 0-4 at a resolution of at least 67 markers, my DNA points to group of men from Abbeville, SC through Mark Maddox b 1785.

Hi Steve! Thanks for the note. I’ve looked at my records and can’t find a mention of the Ogdens up the Maddox line from South Carolina back to Maryland. There was, however, an Ogden family living in Charles County, Maryland in the 1700s – not sure if they interacted with the Maddoxes. Remember, though… the first person to make a DNA-based ancestor claim sets a precedent, even if they’re wrong.

Thanks so much for checking out. It’s a mystery for sure, but will be a fun one to workout. Thanks for the info on that Ogden fam, I’ll be checking that out for sure. Totally agree with you on the DNA precedent, very good point. Keep up the great work!